The Guardian
Olszewski: Trump clemency drains victim-restitution money; pitch for Pardon Integrity Act
A Maryland House Democrat argues that a wave of clemency in the current term has voided a large share of financial penalties that would have fed the federal fund that pays for victim services and community programs, citing data shared for the op-ed. He is pressing a constitutional amendment—branded the Pardon Integrity Act and co-billed with a House Republican from Nebraska—that would force recorded votes in Congress to potentially invalidate a pardon, but only after a threshold of members in each chamber call for review and only if a supermajority in both the House and Senate agree. The piece situates the proposal alongside examples of high-dollar and well-connected clemency recipients, including figures from cryptocurrency cases and a former head of state sentenced on drug-related charges.
Politico
To pardon Ghislaine Maxwell or not: Congress splinters on a clemency path
Politico’s same-day live briefing from Capitol Hill tracks a split in comments around whether President Trump should issue clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a federal sex-trafficking sentence tied to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The reporting surfaces Republicans who are willing to talk about a possible pardon in exchange for cooperation, alongside a committee chair and Democrats who reject that trade and stress harm to Epstein’s survivors, with public statements and pushback to earlier headlines becoming part of the story. The page sits in Politico’s rolling file on congressional action rather than a single bylined longform piece.
ProPublica
Trump pardoned nursing home owner Joseph Schwartz as families still pursued unpaid civil judgments
ProPublica reports that Joseph Schwartz, a nursing home chain owner who received a Trump pardon, still faced unresolved accountability claims from families and workers after his release. The article centers on an unpaid wrongful death judgment of nearly $19 million and describes how a short Arkansas custody window closed before lawyers could effectively pursue asset discovery.
Politico
Justice Department seeks to vacate Jan. 6 seditious-conspiracy convictions for commuted Oath Keepers and Proud Boys leaders
Federal prosecutors in Washington asked the D.C. Circuit to dismiss pending appeals and set aside seditious-conspiracy judgments for high-profile Oath Keepers and Proud Boys defendants whose sentences Donald Trump had commuted without granting full pardons, leaving convictions in place until now. The filing points to the commutation orders and describes dropping the cases as a discretionary call in the interest of justice, in line with an earlier government request in Steve Bannon’s Jan. 6 committee contempt prosecution. The reporting names Stewart Rhodes and several Proud Boys leaders among those affected, while noting Enrique Tarrio had already been pardoned outright.
Raw Story
NYT editors warn Trump's Jan. 6 pardon spree is causing new harm
Raw Story summarizes a New York Times editorial arguing that Trump's mass Jan. 6 pardons have already produced serious public-safety consequences. The piece says the editors identified a dozen known serious recidivists, including several people who were incarcerated when they were pardoned and then quickly committed new crimes. It frames the pardon campaign as a deliberate flood-the-zone strategy and argues voters should hold Trump and his party politically accountable for the damage.
New Clemency Added
Shannon Bitzer
pardonJan 20, 2025
Indicted in the District of Columbia for alleged January 6 conduct that included unlawful entry and physical violence against law enforcement, including by throwing a metal crowd-control device. President Trump issued a Jan. 20, 2025 proclamation granting pardons for certain Jan. 6 offenses, and the case was later dismissed.
New Clemency Added
Charles Donohoe
commutationJan 20, 2025
Leader of the North Carolina chapter of the Proud Boys and member of the group's 'Ministry of Self Defense' (MOSD) leadership. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and assaulting officers for his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. In his signed statement of offense he admitted that by at least January 4, 2021, he knew MOSD leadership was discussing storming the Capitol to stop the transfer of power and understood it would be illegal. On Jan. 6 he relayed Tarrio's orders to rank-and-file Proud Boys to rendezvous at the Washington Monument; he then participated in the assault on the Capitol. The attack disrupted the certification of the presidential election, injured law enforcement officers, and damaged public trust in the peaceful transfer of power.
Gothamist
6 people arrested after smoke device thrown at anti-Muslim protest near Gracie Mansion
Six people were arrested at an anti-Muslim demonstration organized by pardoned Jan. 6 rioter and far-right influencer Jake Lang near Gracie Mansion. Two men, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Nikk, were identified by NYPD as having thrown football-sized devices (jars wrapped in tape with nuts, bolts, and a fuse) that emitted flames and smoke; one was thrown toward Lang's group. Lang arrived in tactical camouflage with about 20 supporters and was met by roughly 125 counterprotesters; four others were arrested including someone who used pepper spray. The bomb squad took the devices for testing.
NBC News
Jan. 6 rioter pardoned by Trump gets life sentence for child sex crimes
Andrew Paul Johnson, who was pardoned by President Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, was sentenced to life in prison in March 2026 for child molestation and related offenses in Florida. He had been convicted the previous month on five charges. Law enforcement said Johnson told one victim he expected a windfall from the government after his pardon and offered to put the victim in his will.
NBC4 Washington
NBC4: Pardon recipient Bryan Betancur arrested in alleged Metro hair-touching assault
NBC4 reports that Jan. 6 pardon recipient Bryan Betancur was arrested after livestream videos appeared to show him repeatedly touching women's hair on a Washington Metro train. Metro Transit Police obtained an assault and battery warrant in Arlington County, and a Montgomery County judge ordered him held without bail while he awaits possible extradition.
New York Magazine (Intelligencer)
Trump's Pardon Office Is 'Totally Decimated'
Matt Stieb reports on the gutting of the Office of the Pardon Attorney under Trump: former head Liz Oyer was fired in March 2025 after refusing to recommend gun-rights restoration for Mel Gibson. The office shrank from about 45 staff to roughly 15, and clemency decisions now routinely bypass it and go straight to the White House. The piece details the pardon-lobbying industry—lobbyists and attorneys close to Trump reportedly charge millions of dollars and cites House Democrats' estimate that by mid-2025 Trump's second-term pardons had already voided over $1.3 billion in restitution to victims. Notable cases include Juan Orlando Hernández, Zhao, Tim Leiweke, and others. The article also reports that Ghislaine Maxwell offered to testify that Trump did nothing wrong in exchange for a commutation. Elizabeth Holmes and Sam Bankman-Fried are mentioned as high-profile clemency seekers.
Fortune
White House says Trump will not pardon Sam Bankman-Fried despite his public pardon campaign
Convicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has been posting on X in a MAGA-oriented tone in an apparent bid to win clemency. A White House spokesperson told Fortune that the president has no intention of pardoning him, pointing to Trump’s January comments that he did not plan to pardon Bankman-Fried, Robert Menendez, or Nicolás Maduro. The piece contrasts Bankman-Fried’s unsuccessful campaign with Trump’s pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao and notes SBF’s history as a major Democratic donor and his reported Tucker Carlson appearance, which led to solitary confinement.
New Clemency Added
John Banuelos
pardonJan 20, 2025
Accused of firing a gun during the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach; his federal case was dismissed following President Trump's blanket pardon. In October 2025 he was arrested in Illinois on a Utah warrant for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault. Prosecutors had accused him of firing a gun during the riot; he also had previously stabbed and killed a man in Utah in 2021 but was not charged after claiming self-defense.
Library of Congress
January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol Web Archive
The Library of Congress collection of archived web materials related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol—including government sites, extremist groups, Capitol Police and FBI resources, congressional hearings, and reporting—preserved for research and the historical record.
ProPublica
Ex-Honduran President Hernández Given Special Treatment After Trump Pardon
Following his pardon from President Trump in December 2025, former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández received preferential treatment that departed from standard federal prison release procedures, including having his immigration detainer lifted and being transported by federal prison officials to a luxury hotel in Manhattan.
Vanity Fair
Have Mercy: The Market for Pardons in Trump's Wild West Wing
Vanity Fair investigates the pardon process under President Trump's administration, revealing how wealthy individuals pay substantial fees to lobbyists and attorneys for clemency advocacy. The article examines cases including Ross Ulbricht, Todd Chrisley, Carlos Watson, and others, describing a 'cottage industry' where well-connected intermediaries charge large sums—sometimes millions of dollars—to help secure pardons or commutations. The piece contrasts this with traditional pardon processes and raises concerns about access and equity in presidential clemency decisions.
Mediaite / Yahoo News
Republican joins Democrats on constitutional amendment to let Congress reject Trump pardons
Rep. Johnny Olszewski introduced the Pardon Integrity Act, a proposed constitutional amendment that would let Congress review and nullify presidential pardons with a two-thirds vote, a direct response to President Trump's blanket pardons for January 6 rioters and high-profile allies like former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández and a money-laundering crypto magnate. Republican Rep. Don Bacon joined as a co-sponsor, arguing that the pardon power has been abused and needs basic checks and balances.
AP News
Five former NFL players receive Trump clemency for perjury, drug, and counterfeiting convictions
Clemency was granted to ex–pro football players Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and Billy Cannon (posthumously). The move was announced by the White House pardon office; Newton was reportedly told by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. The underlying convictions included federal perjury, drug trafficking, and counterfeiting.
NPR
A Jan. 6 rioter pardoned by Trump was convicted of sexually abusing children
Andrew Paul Johnson, who was pardoned by President Trump for storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, was convicted in February 2026 in Florida of five state charges including molesting a child under 12 and another under 16, and lewd and lascivious exhibition. He faces up to life in prison. According to a police report, he attempted to silence one victim by claiming he would receive $10 million from the Trump administration.
New Clemency Added
Edward Kelley
pardonJan 20, 2025
Tennessee man who was among the first to breach the Capitol on January 6, 2021; convicted on multiple charges related to the insurrection. According to CREW and court records, he was later convicted of conspiring to murder the FBI agents who investigated his January 6 case and was scheduled to be sentenced in July 2025. The Capitol attack injured law enforcement and disrupted the certification of the election; the plot against federal agents further endangered public safety.
CNN Business
Elizabeth Holmes asks Trump for early release from prison
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has asked President Trump to commute her sentence, according to a request filed with the Department of Justice. Holmes was convicted in 2022 of defrauding investors: she and Balwani raised hundreds of millions by falsely claiming their blood analyzer could run many tests from a few drops; in reality it performed only a small fraction of the tests offered, and most patient testing used other manufacturers’ machines. She is serving an 11-year term at Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas, currently set to end in December 2031; a grant of clemency could release her roughly six years early. A federal appeals court upheld her convictions and the $452 million restitution order for her and former Theranos president Ramesh Balwani. CNN notes her X account has recently posted in support of Trump's health care efforts; the White House does not comment on clemency requests. The article contrasts her bid with Trump's high-profile pardons of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao and Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht.
NBC News
Trump's pardons forgive financial crimes that came with hundreds of millions in punishments
NBC News analysis: over half of Trump's 88 second-term individual pardons are for white-collar offenses; the 87 people and one corporation pardoned had been ordered to pay more than $298 million in fines and restitution—far more than in past administrations. Includes Changpeng Zhao, Julio Herrera Velutini, Devon Archer, the Camberos siblings, Joseph Schwartz, and others.
Forbes
Trump's Pardon List: Puerto Rico Governor's Co-Conspirator Latest Big-Time Donor Sprung Free By President
Venezuelan-Italian banker Julio Herrera Velutini, who was indicted in a bribery scheme with former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez, received a pardon from President Trump on January 15, 2026. Herrera Velutini's daughter donated $2.5 million to MAGA Inc. in December 2024, just weeks before the pardon.
CREW
At least 33 pardoned insurrectionists face other criminal charges but many are now going free
CREW investigation finds that at least 33 people pardoned by President Trump for January 6 offenses face other serious criminal charges, including violent crimes, sexual offenses, theft, and other felonies. The report documents cases of rearrests and new charges after pardons, raising concerns about public safety.
Reuters
Federal tax prosecutions fell sharply as the Justice Department and IRS reprioritized enforcement
A Reuters review of federal court data found far fewer people charged with tax crimes through early November than in the same window a year earlier, alongside a steep drop in government lawyers listed on those matters. The reporting ties the slowdown to the dismantling of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, attrition among tax and white-collar prosecutors, and deep cuts and redeployments at the IRS—including criminal investigators pulled onto immigration work and visible street patrols in Washington. Former officials and tax-policy voices quoted in the piece warn that weaker criminal enforcement can weaken deterrence against cheating. The story also walks through a high-profile crypto investor’s tax case that ended in a large-payment resolution rather than a conviction.
ProPublica
How Trump Has Exploited Pardons to Reward Allies and Supporters
ProPublica investigation reveals that Trump has largely abandoned the Justice Department's formal clemency process, granting pardons primarily to allies, donors, and culture-war figures. Only 10 of roughly 1,600 clemency recipients filed petitions through proper channels. The report details how Trump built a parallel network of mercy led by political allies like Ed Martin, who was appointed pardon attorney, and Alice Marie Johnson, who advises on drug cases.
CBS News
Trump pardons Giuliani, Meadows, others allegedly involved in efforts to overturn 2020 election results, including 'false electors'
CBS News reports that President Trump pardoned dozens of allies allegedly involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and fake electors from multiple states. The pardons are largely symbolic since they apply only to federal crimes and none of those pardoned faced federal charges; state prosecutions in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin continue.
Georgia Recorder
Trump pardon of 2020 election allies does not erase Fulton County election interference charges
Georgia Recorder explains that Trump's federal pardon of 77 people—including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Sidney Powell, John Eastman, Kenneth Chesebro, Harrison Floyd, and David Shafer—does not void state charges in Fulton County's election interference case. Presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes; Georgia racketeering and other state charges remain, with prosecutors given until November 14, 2025, to appoint a new prosecutor after Fani Willis's disqualification.
KTAR
All 18 people indicted in Arizona's fake electors scheme given pardons by President Trump
President Trump pardoned all 18 people indicted in Arizona's fake electors scheme, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and 11 Republicans who signed false electoral certificates claiming Trump won Arizona in 2020. The federal pardon does not affect state charges; Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has continued prosecution. The 11 fake electors face charges including conspiracy, fraud, and forgery.
Newsweek
Full List of Donald Trump Pardons of 'Fake Electors'
President Trump pardoned 77 allies accused of trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, John Eastman, Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, Christina Bobb, and Boris Epshteyn. The pardons covered people who declared themselves to be the rightful electors who would vote for Trump in the Electoral College in several swing states won by Biden. List of 77: Mark Amick, Kathy Berden, Christina Bobb, Tyler Bowyer, Joseph Brannan, Carol Brunner, Mary Buestrin, Darryl Carlson, James "Ken" Carroll, Brad Carver, Robert Cheeley, Kenneth Chesebro, Hank Choate, Jeffrey Clark, Vikki Consiglio, Nancy Cottle, James DeGraffenreid, John Downey, John Eastman, Jenna Ellis, Boris Epshteyn, Amy Facchinello, Bill Feehan, Carolyn Fisher, Harrison Floyd, Clifford Frost, Kay Godwin, Edward Scott Grabins, Stanley Grot, Rudolph Giuliani, John Haggard, Scott Hall, Misty Hampton, David G. Hanna, Mark Hennessy, Mari-Ann Henry, Durward James Hindle III, Andrew Hitt, Jake Hoffman, Burt Jones, Anthony T. Kern, Kathy Kiernen, Timothy King, Trevian Kutti, James Lamon, Cathleen Latham, Jesse Law, Stephen Lee, Michele Lundgren, Meshawn Maddock, Michael McDonald, Mark Meadows, Shawn Meehan, Robert Montgomery, Daryl Moody, Samuel I. Moorhead, Loraine Pellegrino, Sidney Powell, James Renner, Eileen Rice, Mayra Rodriguez, Mike Roman, Rose Rook, Kelly Ruh, Greg Safsten, David Shafer, Marian Sheridan, Ray Stallings Smith III, Robert F. Spindell Jr., Shawn Still, Ken Thompson, Pam Travis, James Troupis, Kent Vanderwood, Kelli Ward, Michael Ward, C.B. Yadav
NPR
Trump grants pardons to dozens linked to 2020 election efforts
NPR reports that President Trump granted 'full, complete, and unconditional' federal pardons to 77 people involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Sidney Powell, John Eastman, and Mike Roman. The pardons are largely symbolic since none of the recipients faced federal charges; state-level prosecutions in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin are unaffected.
Truthout
Here Are the 'Fake Electors' and Other Allies Trump Just Pardoned
Truthout reports on Trump's pardon of 77 people allegedly involved in the attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Sidney Powell, and dozens of fake electors from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin. The article notes that the federal pardon does not shield anyone from state charges and quotes the Not Above the Law coalition: 'Trump isn't just pardoning people — he's pardoning a conspiracy and trying to rewrite history.'
Votebeat
Trump pardons allies who worked to overturn 2020 his election loss
Votebeat reports on Trump's pardon of 77 people involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including Harrison Floyd and other Fulton County defendants, plus alternate electors who participated in the scheme to cast electoral votes for Trump in states he lost. The federal pardon has no effect on state charges in Georgia, Arizona, and other states.
KCRA
Citrus Heights man pardoned by Trump for role in Jan. 6 convicted for receiving child pornography
Kyle Travis Colton, who was pardoned by President Trump in January 2025 for his role in the January 6 Capitol attack, was convicted by a federal jury for receiving child sexual abuse material. A search of his home uncovered copious images and videos depicting graphic sexual abuse of young children.
CREW
At least 10 pardoned insurrectionists face other criminal charges
CREW investigation reveals that at least 10 people pardoned by President Trump for their roles in the January 6 Capitol attack face other serious criminal charges, including child sexual abuse, soliciting minors, home invasion, theft, and violating peace orders. The report highlights the absence of traditional parole or monitoring for pardoned individuals.
CREW
John Andries convicted for violating peace order after Jan. 6 pardon
John Andries, who was pardoned by President Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol attack, was convicted in June 2025 for violating a peace order by following the mother of his child in violation of a court order. CREW cites him among pardoned insurrectionists who reoffended after receiving their pardons.
KRCR
Arrest made in major copper wire theft in Arcata
Brent Holdridge, who was pardoned by President Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol breach, was arrested in May 2025 for stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of industrial copper wire. He faces charges of burglary, grand theft and possession of stolen property. CREW cites him among insurrectionists who reoffended after receiving their pardons.
WUSA9
January 6 Capitol riot, Zachary Alam, Donald Trump pardon
Zachary Alam, who was sentenced to eight years in prison for assaulting law enforcement during the January 6 Capitol breach and later pardoned by President Trump, was rearrested in May 2025 for an alleged home invasion and theft. CREW cites him among pardoned insurrectionists who reoffended after receiving their pardons.
Texas Tribune
Trump-pardoned Capitol rioter arrested in Texas
Andrew Taake, who was pardoned by President Trump for assaulting Capitol Police officers during the January 6 attack, was rearrested on previous charges of soliciting a minor. CREW has cited his case as an example of pardoned insurrectionists who face other serious criminal charges.
New Clemency Added
Andrew Taake
pardonJan 20, 2025
Texas man who assaulted Capitol Police officers with pepper spray and a metal whip during the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach; sentenced to over six years in prison. According to CREW, after Trump's pardon he was rearrested on previous charges of soliciting a minor. The Jan. 6 attack disrupted the certification of the presidential election and injured officers; the unrelated charges reflect ongoing public safety concerns regarding pardoned insurrectionists.
AP News
Navy veteran who stormed Capitol gets 3 years on gun charges
Hatchet Speed, a former Navy reservist from McLean, Virginia, who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler in FBI undercover conversations, was sentenced to three years in prison on federal firearms charges in Virginia for unregistered silencers. He was a Proud Boy and had held top-secret clearances. Trump pardoned him for his Jan. 6 offenses in January 2025.